Vietnam's midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai (in red) dribbles the ball (Photo: VNA)

This is the first match that the video assistant referees (VAR) system has been applied at the Hanoi-based stadium. Spectators were not allowed due to COVID-19 restriction measures.

In the first half, after a VAR review, the referee refused to give Vietnam a penalty kick after an Australian player attempted to block a shot from Vietnam’s midfielder Nguyen Phong Hong Duy.

Vietnam were able to keep a clean sheet just minutes before the end of the first half, when Australian defender Rhyan Grant scored from a header.

Although Vietnam could not equalise, the team in red maintained its discipline and mental fortitude in the second half, with a number of attacks being launched against the Australian side.

Vietnam are to face China at a neutral venue on October 7.

They were defeated 1-3 by Saudi Arabia in the previous match of the qualifiers’ final round held on September 3 (Vietnam time).

This is the first time Vietnam have ever played in such a round of World Cup qualifiers. They are in Group B along with Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, China and Oman for a spot at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Australia’s win over Vietnam not quite as pretty: Aussie site

Australia’s 1-0 win over Vietnam was not quite as pretty, unlike the triumph over China last week, reported the SportingNews website.

However, the victory in the September 7 match in Hanoi at the final round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers helped Australia continue their remarkable winning run and gave them vital three points in the bag, it added.

The site also touched on an event in the first half, in which subsequent replays showed the ball struck an Australian defender’s hand when he blocked Vietnamese midfielder Nguyen Phong Hong Duy’s shot just inside the penalty area, with the video assistant referee (VAR) calling for the Qatari referee to take a second look.

Meanwhile, Zac Rayson of Fox Sports said that the game was the opposite of a classic, but the Australian squad overcame draining conditions in Hanoi to scrape past Vietnam 1-0.

Australia had the bulk of possession but weren’t nearly so dominant as in their 3-0 win over China last week, constantly struggling to break down a disciplined Vietnam defence – and were lucky to avoid conceding as the world No. 92 hosts had the better of the chances thanks to their dangerous counter-attacking.

In a stop-start affair, the sluggish and sloppy Australia failed to carve out many meaningful chances, with Grant’s 43rd minute goal the only shot on target from them, Rayson said.

Vietnam are to face China at a neutral venue on October 7.

This is the first time Vietnam have ever played in such a round of World Cup qualifiers. They are in Group B along with Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, China and Oman for a spot at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Source: VNA